The WTA has confirmed a new tournament has been included in its calendar in Athens, Greece, which will be held for the first time after 35 years. The WTA 250 Athens Open will be scheduled from July 13 and will replace the Jiangxi Open event in China, which was supposed to be held at the Stadion Sports Center, and will form part of the post-Wimbledon slate.
This is the first time that the WTA event will be held in the city since 1990, and it is also special as Maria Sakkari’s mother, Angeliki Kanellopoulou, was a participant in the finals.
Sakkari is the leading Greek female tennis player who has appeared in 10 WTA Finals and is coming off as the highest-ranked woman ever from her nation. She reached a career high ranking of World No.3 and will be on her way back in July.
“To be able to step on court at home and hear the Greek will be one of the highlights of my career. Athens is where I first picked up a tennis racket and dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player — for a WTA tournament to come here will be a truly special moment and a great opportunity to showcase Greek tennis and inspire young players,” Sakkari said.
With its addition in Athens, the WTA will visit around 27 different countries and territories to highlight the growth of the sport in the region. She is hopeful that this event will result in something in which Sakkari will also be a part as one of the rising talents. She wants to play tennis in the region.
Whether this is a one-time event or will it be an annual outcome remains a question for now. Only after the completion of the tournament will it be decided whether it will be a permanent addition to the WTA calendar or not.
The WTA Athena Open 2026 is set to be held in July from 13 to 19, 2026, at the Stadion Sports Center at OAKA. The hard-court event features the Greek star while marking a major homecoming in Greece’s tennis history. A total of 32 singles and 16 doubles players will play.
“Being able to walk onto the court in my homeland and hear Greek fans will be one of the greatest moments of my career,” Sakkari added.
